Patents by Inventor Enzo Dibenedetto

Enzo Dibenedetto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140230403
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core housing that includes an inlet case and an intermediate case that respectively provide an inlet case flow path and an intermediate case flow path. A first shaft supports a low pressure compressor section that is arranged axially between the inlet case flow path and the intermediate case flow path. A first bearing supports the first shaft relative to the inlet case. A second bearing supports a second shaft relative to the intermediate case. A low pressure compressor hub is mounted to the first shaft. The low pressure compressor hub extends to the low pressure compressor section between the first bearing and the second bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, Todd A. Davis, Gregory E. Reinhardt, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20140030088
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a jumper tube that extends through a first passage and a second passge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20130305733
    Abstract: A method for distributing liquid in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The method includes rotating a fan shaft coupled to a spool via a fan drive gear system. The spool drives rotation of the fan shaft through the fan drive gear system during operation of the gas turbine engine. A pump is driven via the fan shaft. Liquid is supplied from a sump to the pump under a first operating condition. Liquid is supplied from an auxiliary reservoir to the pump under a second operating condition. Liquid is pumped to a damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8561411
    Abstract: An assembly for separating debris from a pressurization air flow adjacent to a bearing compartment seal includes a baffle and a capture annulus. The baffle is disposed in the pressurization air flow upstream of the compartment seal. The capture annulus is positioned adjacent the baffle and has a cavity to collect the debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 8511987
    Abstract: A turbofan engine comprises an engine case. A gaspath extends through the engine case. A fan has a circumferential array of fan blades. A fan case encircles the fan blades radially outboard of the engine case. A plurality of fan case vanes extend outward from the engine case to the fan case. A front frame assembly includes a plurality of vanes extending radially across the gaspath. A transmission couples a shaft to a fan shaft to drive the fan. A bearing assembly couples the shaft to the front frame assembly. A bearing support extends aftward and radially inward from the front frame assembly to the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory E. Reinhardt, Enzo DiBenedetto, Jason W. Mazanec
  • Patent number: 8511055
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system for use in a gas turbine engine includes a fan shaft, a damper, a bearing, and a pump. The damper supports the bearing, and the bearing supports the fan shaft. The pump is connected to and driven by the fan shaft. The pump is also fluidically connected to the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8439637
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first tapered roller bearing and a second tapered roller bearing and a bellows spring. The bellows spring is disposed adjacent the first tapered roller bearing and the second tapered roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Jason W. Mazanec
  • Publication number: 20130048091
    Abstract: An exemplary valve device for controlling flow of a turbomachine fluid includes a housing and a flow control assembly within the housing. The housing has a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. Movement of the housing to a first orientation causes the flow control assembly to move to a first position to restrict flow of a turbomachine fluid into the housing through the second inlet. Movement of the housing to a second orientation causes the flow control assembly to move to a second position to restrict flow of the turbomachine fluid into the housing through the first inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Francis Parnin, Robert E. Peters
  • Patent number: 8381878
    Abstract: An assembly for capturing lubricating liquid from a fan drive gear system of a gas turbine engine includes a gutter and an auxiliary reservoir. The gutter is positioned radially outward from a centerline axis of the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system. The auxiliary reservoir is fluidically connected to the gutter for receiving and storing the lubricating liquid from the gutter. A portion of the auxiliary reservoir and a portion of the gutter have a same radial distance from the centerline axis of the gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20120324899
    Abstract: An assembly includes a gas turbine engine, a compartment wall, and a gutter system. The gas turbine engine has a spool connected to a fan shaft via a gear system. The compartment wall is positioned radially outward from the gear system. The gutter system is positioned radially outward from the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system and positioned radially inward of the compartment wall. The gutter system includes a gutter and a flow passage fluidically connected to the gutter. The flow passage has a plurality of holes that allow the lubricating liquid to pass through the flow passage into a space between the flow passage and the compartment wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHONOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Francis Parnin, Denman H. James, Robert E. Peters
  • Publication number: 20120257960
    Abstract: A turbofan engine comprises an engine case. A gaspath extends through the engine case. A fan has a circumferential array of fan blades. A fan case encircles the fan blades radially outboard of the engine case. A plurality of fan case vanes extend outward from the engine case to the fan case. A front frame assembly includes a plurality of vanes extending radially across the gaspath. A transmission couples a shaft to a fan shaft to drive the fan. A bearing assembly couples the shaft to the front frame assembly. A bearing support extends aftward and radially inward from the front frame assembly to the bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory E. Reinhardt, Enzo DiBenedetto, Jason W. Mazanec
  • Publication number: 20120251306
    Abstract: A turbofan engine comprises an engine case. A gaspath extends through the engine case. A fan has a circumferential array of fan blades. A fan case encircles the fan blades radially outboard of the engine case. A plurality of fan case vanes extend aftward and outward from the engine case to the fan case. A forward frame comprises a plurality of vanes radially across the gaspath. A torque box couples the fan case vanes to the forward frame. A transmission couples a shaft to a fan shaft to drive the fan. A fan bearing assembly couples a stationary forward hub structure to the fan shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory E. Reinhardt, Karl D. Blume, John P. Tirone, III, John C. Ditomasso, Enzo DiBenedetto, Jason W. Mazanec
  • Publication number: 20120195753
    Abstract: A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward section of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within a bearing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Gregory E. Reinhardt, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 8210316
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system includes a scavenge pipe which extends forward into a relatively long and narrow compartment area of a rear bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine with aggressive core size constraints. The scavenger pipe communicates collected oil to a scavenger pump to return oil to the oil sump and evacuate the oil before flooding of the seals may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8051869
    Abstract: A valve includes a valve body defining a valve cavity. The valve body has first and second inlet ports, an outlet port, and a dump port. A weighted member is positioned in the valve cavity and is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the first inlet port is fluidically connected to the outlet port and the second inlet port is fluidically connected to the dump port. In the second position, the second inlet port and the dump port are fluidically connected to the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 7967560
    Abstract: A turbine engine utilizes an oil director to direct any leakage oil from a rear bearing compartment of the turbine engine toward a drain opening for an oil drain. The oil drain is formed in a heat shield located between the low pressure turbine and the exhaust nozzle. The oil drain directs the leakage oil to a benign area of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20110123326
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first tapered roller bearing and a second tapered roller bearing and a bellows spring. The bellows spring is disposed adjacent the first tapered roller bearing and the second tapered roller bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Jason W. Mazanec
  • Publication number: 20110108360
    Abstract: An assembly for capturing lubricating liquid from a fan drive gear system of a gas turbine engine includes a gutter and an auxiliary reservoir. The gutter is positioned radially outward from a centerline axis of the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system. The auxiliary reservoir is fluidically connected to the gutter for receiving and storing the lubricating liquid from the gutter. A portion of the auxiliary reservoir and a portion of the gutter have a same radial distance from the centerline axis of the gear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20110047959
    Abstract: An assembly for separating debris from a pressurization air flow adjacent to a bearing compartment seal includes a baffle and a capture annulus. The baffle is disposed in the pressurization air flow upstream of the compartment seal. The capture annulus is positioned adjacent the baffle and has a cavity to collect the debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20100296947
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system for use in a gas turbine engine includes a fan shaft, a damper, a bearing, and a pump. The damper supports the bearing, and the bearing supports the fan shaft. The pump is connected to and driven by the fan shaft. The pump is also fluidically connected to the damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis